Connection with nature
Need a Pick-Me-Up? Step Outside.
One of the best ways to boost your mood is as simple as stepping out the front door. Being outside, especially in green spaces, has been proven to lift our spirits and support our wellbeing.
But why is nature so good for us?
In short, because the environment we’re in influences what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch - and that directly affects how we feel.
There’s a mountain of research showing nature’s positive impact on mental health.
In a nutshell:
Environments can increase or reduce stress and impact our bodies.
What we see, hear, and experience changes our mood.
Nature makes us feel better emotionally—and physically too.
Time outdoors reduces blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and stress hormone levels.
Here’s what’s even more amazing: you don’t even need to be in nature to feel better. Just having a pot plant nearby, or a view of something beautiful, can reduce stress. How cool is that?
Enter: Ecotherapy.
Nature’s impact is so powerful that experts have developed a whole range of nature-based mental health approaches called ecotherapy. For example, a University of Essex study took people living with depression for a walk in a country park. The result?
90% reported higher self-esteem
Nearly 75% felt less depressed afterward
Stanford University found similar results: participants who walked for 90 minutes in a natural area showed less activity in the part of the brain linked to depression, compared to those who walked in urban settings.
So how do you get your nature fix?
It doesn’t have to mean hiking into the wilderness. It could be as simple as:
🌿 Noticing the seasons changing
🌿 Looking up at a starry sky
🌿 Spending time in your own backyard
The Mental Health Foundation has a great list of ways to enjoy the outdoors, no matter where you live.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing – in Nature
Nature is the perfect setting to practice the Five Ways to Wellbeing:
🌱 Connect
🌱 Give
🌱 Take notice
🌱 Keep learning
🌱 Be active
Evidence from around the world shows that doing these things in nature makes us feel healthier, happier, and more hopeful.
So what are you waiting for? Step outside and let nature do its thing.
